15 I don't like him

After killing everyone in his path and seeing the head of the assassin he had given numerous chances, Astrophel had finally calmed down. "How about the girl?". Fray, a sliver-haired man with a mischievous smile on his lips, inquired.

Astrophel let out a sigh. "I don't have any use for her anymore; just leave her there for a month or two, and she'll starve to death. I suppose they had a second child, but he isn't a threat to me."

The silver-haired man smiled and nodded, allowing his loose hair to fall out of his ponytail and into his face. Astrophel gave him a sidelong glance as he raised his hand and combed his long hair back.

"Are you going to cut it?"

Fray twirled a strand of his hair as he shook his head. "It's a symbol of strength in my hometown."

"You've never told me where you're from."

"Your Majesty, somewhere beyond your reach."

Astrophel chuckled. "You make it sound like I'd want to take over your town."

"I apologize. I can never be too safe," Fray responded with a bow before swiftly adding. "Are you going to give up on your search for the princess?"

"It appears I'll have to turn to my last resort," Astrophel sighed regretfully.

"May I inquire as to the nature of this resort?"

"I'll have to ask the king of Zlork. It's his territory, so it should be easy for him, but I'll owe him something if I ask for this favor," Fray nodded in accord with the idea.

"Should I send a telegram to his Majesty requesting a meeting?"

"Please do." With a sigh, Astrophel leaned back in the seat, closing his eyes and whispering. "You're the only person I can trust to get things done correctly." Fray walked out of the throne room with a smile.

___________________

The king of Zlork glanced at the telegram in front of him, and his personal knight wondered what was going through the king's mind. The two had been friends since childhood, but the king had always been difficult to read.

"I'll accept it." The king said after a minute of silence.

"Yes, sir." Rugal swiped his palm across the telegram, and the choice to accept or decline appeared, which he selected accept. Because it was made of magic, Astrophel received a quick response, and the meeting was set for later the afternoon on the next day.

The real name of Zlork's king is Alexander, although few people know it because he was called the "blood king" and "warlord" by many. Alexander disliked both names, but he didn't stop people from calling him them behind his back because it was the most effective way to make people fear him.

The two were currently in the council room, but they were the only ones there because the other members of the council had not been informed of the situation, and Alexander disliked them. Alexander got up from his chair and walked out of the room, trailed by Rugal.

"Are you going to bed with me? I usually only let women in, but I'll make an exception for you." The king stated. Rugal choked, and if he had been drinking something at the time, it would have spilled all over the red carpet that covered the palace's floors.

"My king, you shouldn't be joking around like that; what if bystanders misunderstand?"

"They won't"

_______________

The day flew by, and Alexander was ensconced in the council room's head chair with Rugal standing by his side. The events of the previous day was entirely forgotten. Fray and two well-trained guards followed Astrophel in.

Astrophel took a seat in the chair at the far end of the table, which was usually intended for the queen to show that the king and queen were equals. Alexander was clearly annoyed by Astrophel's actions, but he said nothing about it. "You appear to trust me. You only have one guard in the room," Astrophel replied, casting a glance at Rugal.

Alexander started laughing. "I don't trust you." Astrophel lifted his right eyebrow in response to Alexander's statement, then Astrophel's eyes flared in a venomous stare as Alexander continued his sentence. "I am completely confident that my knight here can defeat thirty of your men."

Astrophel smirked and returned his gaze to Rugal. "And what if I could persuade him to return with me?" Astrophel was clearly attempting to enrage Alexander, but he was failing miserably.

"You could give it a shot."

"How about we get into why I'm here?" Alexander's black, dead, and cold eyes absorbed Astrophel's gaze. "I need a favor," Astrophel said after a little pause to observe Alexander's expression. "My sister has gone missing, and she was spotted here. Therefore, I am asking you to assist me in finding her."

Alexander smiled, but like all his smiles, it contained no warmth. "What am I going to get in return?"

Astrophel had nothing to offer Alexander that he didn't already have, so he asked. "Can you tell me what you'd like?"

"I want a wife." Rugal choked, but as his king looked at him, he regained his calm and apologized by bowing.

"What do you mea-"

Alexander interrupted Astrophel before he could complete his question, "I hear your sister is an unparalleled beauty."

When Astrophel realized what Alexander intended, he glared at him, but he kept his cool and spoke calmly. "My parents are sick in bed, and I can't make that decision, so if Astraea agrees when we find her, then so be it."

"Do we have a deal?" Astrophel asked as he got up from his seat.

A small nod from Alexander was all Astrophel needed.

Astrophel hurriedly left the palace because he couldn't tolerate being around Alexander any longer and feared that if he stayed a second longer, he would have launched a war between the two countries.

"What do you think of him?" Rugal and Fray both asked the same question to their kings at the same time.

Alexander's cold black eyes squinted, and his thin lips pulled back into a sinister smile, while Astrophel's face twisted in disgust and his hands involuntarily clenched at his sides. Both of them responded,

"I don't like him."